Bicycle Mechanics - Grease oozing from Shimano D.A. 7400 hub

Hi,

I've got an older Dura Ace (74xx series) hub set I got used over a year ago and built a set of wheels around. They've always spun smoothly. A few weeks back I noticed a bit of a "squeak" and figured it was about time I repacked the bearings.

Following best practices from ParkTool and Sheldon Brown, I cleaned the cones, races and balls - all look good without pits. I'd tightened things up and rode the bike about 50 miles. I noticed Phil Wood grease leaking out from the cone on the non-drive side (the side I broke loose). So I opened up the cone, packed in more grease and got it much tighter this time, but not so tight it didn't spin smooth.

Now I've got almost 100 miles and this morning I see grease again. I'm pretty sure I can't safely get this much tighter without affecting compressing the bearings.

Do I need a new cone or rubber seal? The rubber o-ring/gasket flops a bit, but is not torn.
Did I just put way too much grease in there? (is it possible to do this?)

I've repacked MTB style bearing before and never had this issue. Any help is appreciated.
Thanks

-Sean

Sounds Normal to me, Grease should ooze out the first few rides after you repack it IIRC.

It always happens to me too, I wouldn't worry about it

Any Experts to chime in?

Sounds Normal to me, Grease should ooze out the first few rides after you repack it IIRC.

It always happens to me too, I wouldn't worry about it
+1 Excess grease will usually ooze out of either or both ends of a hub for the first few rides unless you are very stingy with the amount you use. I always overpack hubs and expect leakage for a while. That way the grease itself acts as a seal and keeps out dirt and water.

Do NOT overtighten your hubs to try to prevent a bit of escaping grease. The grease will still leak and you will ruin your bearing races and cones.

+1 Excess grease will usually ooze out of either or both ends of a hub for the first few rides unless you are very stingy with the amount you use. I always overpack hubs and expect leakage for a while. That way the grease itself acts as a seal and keeps out dirt and water.

Do NOT overtighten your hubs to try to prevent a bit of escaping grease. The grease will still leak and you will ruin your bearing races and cones.

Thanks for the confirmation about the leakage being normal.

Regarding overtightening - the wheel spins freely in the air and I can't feel any resistance while riding at any speed. I realize this is subjective and largely is something you just "feel", but is there any measurable way to know if it's too tight?

Always happens to my hubs when I repack, as I like to put a lot in there.

I got a new set of wheels a few months ago with Ultegra hubs. After about 400 miles, I noticed grease oozing also. Talk to LBS, they said it was normal, the hubs had also gotten loose during this time. I pulled them apart, inspected, repacked and adjusted.

After the adjustment/repacking, good as new...

...but is there any measurable way to know if it's too tight?

There should be a tiny amount of play when the wheel is not on the bike, when you tighten the skewers the play should disappear. Check http://sheldonbrown.com/cone-adjustment for more detail.

I know of no measurable way to determine if its too tight....just a "feel" thing. .....

There should be a tiny amount of play when the wheel is not on the bike, when you tighten the skewers the play should disappear. Check http://sheldonbrown.com/cone-adjustment for more detail.

I'll back the cone of just a bit to allow some play and then confirm the play disappears when the QR is tightened. Hopefully 20 miles of "maybe too tight" adjustment won't have observable consequences.

Always happens to my hubs when I repack, as I like to put a lot in there.

+1 you should be fine

If you use a thick grease, like the popular marine grease, it’s best to not use too much or excess will work it’s way up into freehub engagement pawls and can foul them – please don’t ask me how I know. Grease oozing out, beyond a fairly small amount, is a sign you have used too much grease.

If you use a thick grease, like the popular marine grease, it’s best to not use too much or excess will work it’s way up into freehub engagement pawls and can foul them – please don’t ask me how I know. Grease oozing out, beyond a fairly small amount, is a sign you have used too much grease.
I use Phil Grease so if it gets into the freehub body, no harm done. Also, the Shimano freehubs I'm familiar with have a rubber seal ring at the end facing the hub body and no grease is going to get through it.

Yes, I use "too much" grease but it acts as its own seal and the excess leaks out with no problems. I have a set of 9-speed era Dura Ace hubs with 45,000 miles on the original cones, races and freehub body so I can't have done too much wrong.

Hi,

I've got an older Dura Ace (74xx series) hub set I got used over a year ago and built a set of wheels around. They've always spun smoothly. A few weeks back I noticed a bit of a "squeak" and figured it was about time I repacked the bearings.

Following best practices from ParkTool and Sheldon Brown, I cleaned the cones, races and balls - all look good without pits. I'd tightened things up and rode the bike about 50 miles. I noticed Phil Wood grease leaking out from the cone on the non-drive side (the side I broke loose). So I opened up the cone, packed in more grease and got it much tighter this time, but not so tight it didn't spin smooth.

Now I've got almost 100 miles and this morning I see grease again. I'm pretty sure I can't safely get this much tighter without affecting compressing the bearings.

Do I need a new cone or rubber seal? The rubber o-ring/gasket flops a bit, but is not torn.
Did I just put way too much grease in there? (is it possible to do this?)

I've repacked MTB style bearing before and never had this issue. Any help is appreciated.
Thanks

-Sean


Just curious: did you put in new ball bearings? I ask because I have an older RSX hub that I thought about rebuilding and was under the impression that you should always get new bearings when you re-do hubs.

Just curious: did you put in new ball bearings? I ask because I have an older RSX hub that I thought about rebuilding and was under the impression that you should always get new bearings when you re-do hubs.

I was prepared to, and have replacement balls on hand, but things looked really decent so I cleaned and repacked using the existing balls.